Electbical voting system oh the like



COMMON RE TURN May 31, 1949- v w. T. POWELL I 2,471,774

ELECTRICAL VOTING SYSTEM OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 8, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet; l

i r-r l i P/ck Mii-[T CODE .Jl/MPE/es l --EIE-L- n- INVENTOR.

y W//VF/Q- 7.' /OW- l BY 9 @MWA May 31, 1949 vw. T. POWELL 2,471,774

ELECTRICAL VOTING SYSTEM OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 8, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 h +--f--gr-F--- Vla-f'- IN VEN TOR.

W//VF/P-D I POWE L May 3l, 1949. w. T. POWELL 2,471,774

ELECTRICAL VOTING SYSTE M O R T H E L I KE May 3l, 1949. v w. T. POWELL 2,471,774

l ELECTRICAL VOTING SYSTEM OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 8, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PUNCH A MHG/V575 OFF/CE t, i .INI/ENTOR.

u BY L .5g A0. W

Patented May 3 1, 1949 UNITED STATES NT FFICE ELECTRICAL VOTING SYSTEM OR THE LIKE Application September 8, 1944, Serial No. 553,255

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrical voting system or the like.

This system has for its purposes an arrangement in which votes or other choices made at a plurality of scattered voting booths located at outlying stations can be electrically recorded at a central oice, over a minimum number of conductors.

The various features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description and claims When taken with the drawings in which the four figures diagrammatically represent the present arrangement. Fig. 1, with Fig. 2 placed therebeneath, indicates that portion of the system located at one outlying station or booth, while Figs. 3 and 4, when placed respectively at the right of Figs. 1 and 2, represent the central oice, which is common to a plurality of outlying stations.

The present system is assuined to comprise sixteen voting 'booths or outlying stations, of Which one station is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, all connected to the central office recording mechanisrn by means of two pairs of conductors common to the Whole system. A portion of the system at each station is made up of a channel selecting device comprising a group of counting relays, which step ofi in synchronization With a similar channel selecting device comprising a group of counting relays in the central oice. There is also provided at each station a lockout circuit for preventing more than one station gaining access to the line at any one time, and also selectors for recording the vote or choice.

Although only one such selector is illustrated, comprising a group of seven keys and four registering relays, it will be obvious that additional groups may be provided and selected in the same manner illustrated. Although only seven keys are illustrated, the coding system provides for a maximum of sixteen such keys for each selector, when four registering relays A, B, C and D are provided. For each additional relay provided, the number of keys is doubled. rThe code jumper arrangement (Fig. 1) for providing station registration shows four such jumpers selected at the first four steps of the cycle. This provides for the registration of any one of sixteen stations during a cycle. More specifically, the counting relays at a transmitting station (Figs. l and 2) and the counting relays in the oidce (Figs. 3 and 4) step through an operating cycle in synchronism when the system is started up by the opening of the curtain contact at the station. During the rst four steps of the counting relays, the line to the oce is coded by energizing (referred to as a -icode) or not energizing (referred to as a code) this line at each step. Therefore, one step provides a choice of two codes, (-lor Two steps provides a choice of four codes at the rst step and -lat the second step, -lat the rst step and at the second step, at the rst step and at the second step, at the rst step and at the second step). Three steps provides a choice of eight codes (built up in the same manner at each step), four steps provides a choice of 16 codes (built up as above in geometrical progression), the number of available codes equalling two raised to the power of the number of steps. As illustrated, the first four steps are coded to provide for a selective registration oi 16 different stations, while four additional steps of a cycle are provided to selectively register the vote at a registered sending station. The number of possible Voting choices during an operating cycle is likewise equal to two raised to the power of the number of steps in the voting portion of the cycle. This is because the line is again coded at each step as previously eX- plained. A superiority of code scheme is provided to disconnect all stations except one in the event that more than one station obtains access to the common line circuit at the beginning of a cycle. In other words, more than one station may :be waiting when a new cycle begins and the stations will all connect themselves to the common line circuit, but at the step of the cycle when execution takes place (recording the station in the oflice), all stations will have been dropped oi except one and that one Will be the one having the superior code.

It is believed that the operation will best be understood by assuming that the station illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is station if 1 and that a voter enters the booth at this station and operates voting lfey #l in order to vote for John Doe or to answer a questionnaire, as the case may be7 by means of this particular key.

When the voter enters the booth and closes the curtain, the curtain contact closes a circuit for operating booth curtain relay BP. Relay BP closes a circuit for operating the booth curtain repeater slow-acting relay BCP.

When the voter operates key #1, a circuit is closed through a back contact of the wipe-out key, front contact of relay BCP, back contact of lock-out relay LO, front contact of key #l and Winding of relay A. When the key is released, relay A is locked over a portion of the:

key restores the register relays to normal and eXtinguishes the lamp as an indication that another vote may ,be made. This wipe-out key' is only eective as long as the booth is occupied and relay STR is not operated, since opening* the booth curtain releases relays BP and BCP in sequence, thus operating relay STR which locks itself operated until the cycle is run off. Consequently, when the booth curtain is opened,

the registration cannot be changed and the keys are ineffective until the previous recording has been effected yin the central oiiice and the system restored to normal.

Wheny relayv STR operates, in response to openingy the curtain contact, the normally actuated green'lig'ht is changed to la red light and this red light remains through its cycle which will take approximately two seconds, depending on the size of the system When relay' BP releases in response to opening theboothv curtain, the #l indicator lamp is extnguished.

In this systemv a lockin-loekout scheme is used to permit one or more stations to gain access to the common line circuit at the beginning of each cycle and to prevent any station gaining access to the line circuit during an operating cycle.

This is accomplished by the use of the lock-in conductor which is'one of the four common conductors connected to all stations. Assuming the system to be in its normal position when a voting keyis operated at'station #1, as above explained, thel operation of relay STR at the station closes a circui'tfor operating the station lock-in relay ILIand the ofiice lock-in relay LI in series with the lock-in line conductor.

In order to describe how the .system operates, ifniore than one station comes in on the line at'the same time at the start of a cycle, it will be assumed that voting has taken place at eight different stations (stations 1 to 8 inclusive) and that the lock-in relays'at all of these stations are operated at the same time. of relays LI and ILI eiects the operation of relaysV ICB at the illustrated station and CB in the oiiice over the step line circuit. Of course, in the present assumed condition, the ICB relays at' the other seven'stations Will also operate. Since there is a limit on the number of ICB relaysat the stations which can be impulsed in multiple" over the step line circuit, the values of the lILI relays at the stations can be so Worked out that only the limited station ILI relays can operate in multiple and in series with relay LI in the oiiice Which corresponds to the limited number of relays ICB that can be irnpulsed. It

will'v be understood that as each relay, such asr ICB, is connected to the step line, the current through each of these relays connected in multiple with this step line will be reduced so that a point will be reached Where the current will become so low that any additional relay, such as relay ICB, Will not operate. The number of on until the system runs' The operation .4 such relays that Will be operated at any given time is a matter of choice.

The operation of relay ICB at the station closes an obvious circuit for operating relay ISA and relay ISA closes a circuit for operating relay ICX. It will be understood that similar relays at the other stations operate and that the counting relays at these other stations operate through the' cycle-insynchronism with the illustrated station. Relays ICB and ISA close a locking circuit for relay ILI to maintain this relay operatedthroughout the cycle.

R'el'ay CBin theoiiice closes a circuit for operatingirelaySA and this relay in turn closes a @circuit foroper'ating relay SAP which eiects the operationfof relay CX. Relay SAIJ opens up thelockein circuit so that no other station can get` in during this cycle. Relay LI is likewise lo'c'lied operated during ,the cycle by means of a front contact on relay SA.

Thecounti'ng-relay circuit is the same as disH closed in Powell Patent, No. 2,325,877, granted August 3; 1943, it rbeing understood that ie iin-- pulsingof the' step line provides a number of "on and off periods which correspond to the energized and deenergized conditions of the line respectively. The first energized period of the step line is conveniently referred to as the conditioriingfon'n period since it effects the operation of all `station relays in thev office. This is done by operating impulse repeating relay'PLP when relay SAP operates for effecting the slow rel'easeiofconditioning relayCOND. lIlne operationofvrelay CXclos-es a circuit for operating relay STC (Fig. 4) and 'thisrelay in turn closes circuits for operating all station relays, eight of which (I'S'T'to 3ST inclusive) are shown, .it being understood that there will be 16 station relays in a system having 16 stations. The release of relayfCOND eiects the release of relay STC but befoierelay STC releases, certain locking circuits are completed'fior the station relays as will be pointed out later.

The release of relay COND opens up step line circuit'to terminate the conditioning on period which effects the release of relay CB and the operation of relay C I.

The opening up of the step line also efects the release of relay ICB and the operation of relay- ICI over a circuit traceable from the negative pole of battery, Winding of relay ICI, middle front contact and armature of relay ICX, through the pick-'up lead, `front contact and armature of relay ISA, innermost back contact and armature of relay ICB,-to the positive pole of battery. The release oirelay ICB closes the code line circuit and since station #l has the #l code jumper connected as shown, this completes a circuit for operating relay CD in the ofiice. With relay CB 'down and relay CD up, a circuit is closed for'applyingpositive potential to the positive code conductor. Ifrelay CD is down at this time then this circuit applies positive potential to the negative code conductor. The positive and negative code conductorsV correspond to the positive and negative codes inthe code line, the positive and negative conditions correspondingto the energizedand deenergized conditions respectively of thecode line.

l'llheenergization of the positive code conductor during the first off period closes a circuit through front contacts of reiays CI and CX for operating the #l positive coding relay IPC. If this ,rst code was negative, then relay INC would have been operated.

The operation of any PC or NC relay closes a circuit for operating impulse relay PL and this relay opens the circuit of relay PLP which releases after a short interval and closes up the step line to terminate the rst oit period.

At the end of the rst off period, relays CB and ICB are operated. Relay lCB opens up the code line and also eiects the release of relay ICX. The operation of relay CB eiects the release of relay CX. The operation of relay ECB eiects the release of relay CD and the operation of relay CB effects the release of relay EPC.

The release of relay lPC opens up and releases relay PL which closes the circuit for operating relay PLP which in turn opens up the step line to terminate the rst on period. This releases relays ICB and CB for operating relays CB and C2.

The circuit for opera'ling relay HG2 may be traced from (l-), brealf.- contact of relay ICB, make contact of relay ESA, break contact of relay ICX, make contact of relay lCl and winding of relay ICZ to The circuit for operating relay C2 may be traced from break contactI of relay CB, inalre contact of relay SA, break contact of relay CX, make contact of relay Cl and winding of relay C2 to The second code is transmitted during the second ofi period, and since there is no connection of the i752 code jumper, relay CD will not be energized. Consequently, the release of relay CB closes a circuit for applying positive potential to the negative code conductor, which is effective over a circuit including iront contacts of relays C2 and Cl for operating the negative code relay ZWC. closes a circuit for operating relay PL which releases relay PLP for closing the step line circuit which terminates the #2 oil period and operates relays CB and ICB,

It is not believed necessary to describe detail the operation of the counting relays and impulse relays during the remaining steps of the cycle, since enough has been explained to show that relays PL and cooper te with the counting relays for providing the oit and on periods of the cycle. Since these relays are slow releasing, the impulsing will be at the proper rate for proper stepping control. lt will likewise be understood that the PC and NC relays in the oce are operated in accordance with whether, or not, there is a code juniper connection. at the diierent steps oi the cycle.

The station has ce e positive, negative, negative, negative and consequently, the code line will be energized at the iirst deenergiaed at the second, third and fourth steps. The code table shown just below the code juniper arrangements indicates the various code combinaA tions for selectively registering any one of i6 stations during the rst four steps or the cycle.

It will now be explained how relay EST in the office is maintained operated after the four codes have been transmitted and how all other relays are dropped out by the time the last code is transmitted, so that only one station may be recorded on the punch during one cycle.

Referring to the central oice circuits, a locking circuit is closed for all ST relays extendin from positive battery, iront contact of relay Se, front contact of relay PLP, back contact of relay PL, back contact of relay and iront contacts of all ST relays to their lower Another positive potential is applied to this locking cirm cuit by way of a front Contact oi relay CB. This locking circuit is completed with relays PL and PLP out of correspondence, consequently these ST relays will be loclred operated until relay PL is operated during the rst off period at which time relay CB is deenergized. When relay PLP released in response to the operation of relay PL, this locking circuit is again completed and when relay CB is next operated during the #l on period, the positive potential is connected to the locking circuit by way of a front contact oi relay CB.

From the above, it will be seen that there is an interval after the operation of relay PL and before the of relay PLP (which is slow releasing) locking circuit for the ST relays is open. During this interval the energizaticn of an ST relay is made dependent upon the code at this step. In this particular example relay CD was operated before this above desc ed locking circuit for the ST relays is opened and remains operated until after it is closed. This is because relay CD is operated by the release of ICB at the station and is not released until shortly after the operation of relay iCB at the station. With relay EPC operated, as above described for the rst code, an additional locking circuit is closed for relay SST including its upper Winding and this locking circuit is maintained until relay lPC is released which occurs after the above described locking circuit for the lower windings of the ST relays is again closed.

Furthermore, referring to the code table, station relays and are also responsive to a positive code at the rst step, it being noted from the circuit that relay lPC completes locking circuits for the upper windings of relays 5ST, 6ST and 'IST as well as for relay lST, but at this point there are no locking circuits for relays 2ST, 3ST, 4ST and 8ST, thus resulting in the release of these relays during the transmission of the rst code.

The same condition exists during the second oil period when the second code is transmitted. In the present example, this is a negative code, relay CD will not be operated and consequently relay 2N() will be operated over a circuit including back contacts of relays CB and CD and front contacts of relays Cl and C2. Relay ENC is released by the operation of relay CB in a manner similar to that described in connection with the release of relay l PC of the first code.

During the interval of the second oil period when the locking circuits for the lower windings f' of the ST relays are opened, the energization of one or more ST relays is dependent upon a circuit completed through a front contact of relay ZNC. It will be seen that relay 2NC locks relays EST, EST and 7ST of those remaining operated from the rst code and relay 5ST is released.

At the third code, which is a negative code, relay SNC is operated and this relay completes locking circuits for the upper windings of relays EST and TST only of those left operated from the second code, thus effecting the release of relai7 BST.

The fourth code is negative and relay 4NC is operated, this relay completing a locking circuit for relay iST only of the relays left operated aiter the code is transmitted for registering in the central oce the #l station to the exclusion of the other' stations. It will be obvious from the code table, the jumper connections and the circuit wiring of the ST, PC and NC relays, how the different code combinations function to maintain only one relay in its operated position after the transmission of a station code.

With relay Cil operated and relay C3 released, a circuit is closed for operating relay EX and this relay completes a circuit for operating the station punch magnet corresponding to the recorded station. Since this station, in the present example, is station #1, this circuit will extend through front Contact of relay IST to the Winding of the associated punch magnet for punching the hole in the card at the proper location for recording this station. The station relay lST (or any other station relay left operated) is released When relay C5 operates which is after the operation of relay EX. The release of relay lST opens the circuit of the punch magnet, this magnet restores and the punch. machine is advanced for making the next recording. Relay EX is released by the operation of relay C5.

After the transmission of the four codes of the station code, no PC nor NC relay will be operated to operate relay PL for continuing the impulsing of the cycle. This provides a slight delay during the 5th "ohm period for again conditioning the circuits and again operating the ST relays. When relay EX releases, a circuit is closed through its back contact and front contacts of relays C4 and C5 for again operating relay STC, which relay again effects the operation of all ST relays.- Relay STC closes a circuit for operating relay PL, since relay C5 is operated at this time and relay PL causes the continued impulsing for completing the cycle. The impulsing circuits function as before with relays PL and PLP in combination with the counting relays providing the impulses in the step line.

Relays 05 to IC8 inclusive select channel circuits leading to` the four register relays of the first registerv and extend these channel circuits in sequence to the code line for providing a code which is similar to the station code previously explained, but in this case dependent upon the energization of the A, B, C and D relays of the rst register. Any one or more of these relays operated Will have positive potential extended from'the' left hand terminal of the relay windings to the associated channel circuit and Will provide a positive code for operating relay CD in the central office. Any relay not energized Will provide a negative code at corresponding step.

The positive and negative codes are effective to disconnect ST relays in the office in the same manner previously described, leaving only one operated after the ninth oil period of the cycle. This' provides the voting code during the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth off periods and this code in the present example will be effective to operate relay iPC and relays 2, 3 and lNC since it Was assumed that relay A is the only one energized of the rst register group.

Executing relay EX is again operated When rel'ay Cil releases after the operation of relay C@ and closes a circuit for again operating a punch magnet corresponding to the ST relay left 0p erated. In the present example, this was assumed to be relay lST, so that the corresponding punch magnet will be again operated to regis-- ter the vote for John Doe, it being understood that the punch magnet machine advanced the card to the next row corresponding to the register or selector. Relay EX will be released when relay Clll is operated and will open up the circuit of the punch magnet. From the above explanation, it will be seen that additional register selectors may be provided and connected to lil additional channel circuits and these channel circuits may be selected by providing additional counting relays at the stations.

When relay PLP is operated by the release of and LO and changes the red light to a green light as an indication that the booth may be again used for another voting operation.

In the central oiice, the release of relay SA- eifects the release of relays LI and l ST (or any other ST relay left operated) as Well as effectingthe release of relay SAP. Relay SAP causes relays CQ and Cl@ to release and COND to operate.

Station #l cannot gain access to the line circuit again until relay HCS@ releases because thereis no positive potential connected to the upper Winding of relay lL! for energizing the lock-in line.

I However, another station Waiting to gain access il l" to the line circuit can get in as soon as relay PLP in the control office releases at the end of the cycle, this being before the release of relay ICIU at the station. This arrangement prevents a station from monopolizing the line circuit and permits other stations to take their turn in transmitting.

It will be understood that the D. C. current supply shown at the office and at the station may be rectiiied A. C. since this supply is used only for the purpose of operating relays, magnets and lamps. It will also be understood that more than one 4 booth may be provided at a location, each booth being assigned a station code. Furthermore, the

station code and/or the Voting code can be readily' varied by obvious variations in the counting and selector circuits.

What I claim is:

1. In a voting system, a plurality of voting stations, a central office, a set of conductors connecting said ofce and said stations, said o'ice and said stations being each provided with a chain of relays sequentially operated in a given cycle, means at each station for indicating one of several Votes or choices thereat by a distinctive selectedcode, code-operated means at the oiiice for displaying the votes or choices made at the respective stations, means for effectivelyl associating a given station with said set of conductors to the exclusion of other stations, means controlled over said conductors responsive to said association for causing the relay chain at the associated station and the relay chain at the oiiice to operate sequentially in step with each other, means responsive to the operation of the relay chain at the associated station and to the operation of the relay chain at said oiiice for transmitting the distinctive code at the given station over at least one of said conductors to said code-operated means.

2. In a voting system, a plurality of voting stations, a central oflice, a set of conductors connecting said oiice and said stations, each station and' said cnice being provided with a chain of-relays sequentially operated in a given cycle, a set of keys at each station, each key being related to a given vote or choice, a plurality of register relays at each station less in number than the number'of keys in the set and controlled by said keys, to

establish a group of code conditions individual to each vote, means at said oiiice including a group of code-controlled `relays for recording each choice, means for eiectively associating a given station with said set of conductors to the eX- clusion of other stations, means controlled over said conductors responsive to said association for causing the relay chain at the associated station and the relay chain at the oflice, to operate sequentially in step with each other, and means responsive to the operation of the relay chain at the associated station and to the operation of the relay chain at said oce for communicating in sequence over certain of said conductors to said code controlled relays, the code conditions of a given vote for selectively operating said last-mentioned relays.

3. In a voting system, a plurality of voting stations, a central office, a set of conductors connecting said oli'ice and said stations, each station i and also said office being provided With a chain of relays sequentially operated in a given cycle, a voting position at each station provided with a curtain switch operated prior to the act of voting, a set of keys at each position, each key being related to a given vote or choice, a plurality of register relays at each station less in number than the number of keys in the set and controlled by said keys and by said curtain switch, when operated, to establish a group of code conditions individual to each vote, means at said oflice including a group of code-controlled relays for recording each choice, means for effectively associating a given station with said set of conductors to the exclusion of other stations, means controlled over said conductors responsive to said association for causing the relay chain at the associated station and the relay chain at the ofiice to operate sequentially in step with each other, and means responsive to the operation of the relay chain at the associated station and to the operation of the relay chain at said office for communicating in sequence over certain of said conductors to said code controlled relays, the code conditions of a given vote for selectively operating said last-mentioned relays.

4. In a voting system, a voting station, a central office, a set of conductors connecting said office and said station, said ofce and said station being each provided With a chain of relays sequentially operated in a given cycle, means at said station for indicating at least one of several possible votes or choices thereat by a selected multiunit code, recording relays at said Olice, means controlled over said conductors responsive to the indication of a choice at said station for causing the relay chain at the associated station and the relay chain at the oiice to operate sequentially in step With each other, means responsive to the initiating of the operation of the relay chain at said oiice for operating all of said recording relays, decoding relays at said oiilce, means including the operating relay chain at said station and the operating relay chain at said oice for communicating the units of the code at said station over at least one of said conductors to selectively govern said decoding relays, means including said decoding relays for selectively releasing all of said recording relays except the one indicative of said choice, and recording mechanism selectively controlled by said recording relays.

5. In a voting system, a voting station, a central oiiice, a set of conductors including a step conductor and a code conductor connecting said oirice and said station, said oice and said station being Los each provided with a chain of relays sequentially operated in a given cycle, means at said station for indio-ating at least one of several possible votes or choices thereat by a selected multi-unit code, recording relays at said office, means controlled over said step conductor responsive to the n- -dication of a choice at said station for causing the relay chain at the associated station and the relay chain at the eiice to operate sequentially in step with each other, means responsive to the initiating oi the operation of the relay chain at said ofce for operating all of said recording relays, decoding relays at said cnice, means including the operating relay chain at said station and the operating relay chain Iat said ofce for communicating the units of the code at said station over said code conductor to selectively govern said decoding relays, means including said decoding relays for selectively releasing all of s-aid recording relays except the one indicative of said choice, and recording mechanism selectively controlled by said recording relays.

6. In a voting system, a plurality of voting stations, -a central office, a set of conductors connecting said ofce and said stations, said oice and said stations being each provided with a chain of sequentially operated relays, means at each station for individually characterizing the same by a station code, means at each station for selectively registering at least one vote or choice thereat by a distinctive code, code-operated means at the oii'lce for displaying the designation of said stations and for displaying the votes or choices made at the respective stations, means for effectively associating a given station with said set of conductors to the exclusion of other stations, means responsive to said association for causing the relay chain at the associated station and the relay chain at the cnice to operate sequentially in step with each other, and means responsive to the operation of the relay ch-ain at a given station and to the operation of the relay chain at said office for transmitting the stations code of the given station and the distinctive code at the given station over one of said conductors to said code-operated means for operating the same.

'7. In a voting system, a plurality of voting stations, a central oce, -a set of conductors connecting said oflce and said stations, said office and said stations being each provided With a chain of relays sequentially operated in a cycle, means at each station for individually characterizing the same by a stations code, manually controlled means at each station for selectively registering at least one vote or choice thereat by a distinctive code, code-operated means at the office for displaying the designation of said stations and for displaying the votes or choices made at the respective stations, means for effectively associating a given station with said set of conductors to the exclusion of other stations, means controlled over at least one of said conductors responsive to said association for causing the relay chain at the associated station and the relay chain at the oiiice to operate sequentially in step with each other, and means responsive to the operation of the relay chain lat a given station and to the operation of the relay chain at said oice for transmitting the stations code of a given station and the distinctive code at the given station over another or said conductors to said code-operated means whereby the same is selectively actuated.

8. In a voting system. a plurality of voting stations, a central oice, a set of conductors including 'astep conductor and a code conductor connecting said oice and said stations, said cnice and said stations being each provided with a chain of'A sequentially operated relays, means at each station for individually characterizing the same by'a station code, means at each station for selectively registering at least one vote or choice thereatv by a distinctive code, code-operated means Aat the office for displaying' the designation offs'aid stations and for displaying the votes or choices made at the respective stations, means for" effectively associ-ating a given station with said -set of conductors to the exclusion of other stations, means responsive to said association for causing the relay chain at the associated station and the relay chain at the oilice to operate over thestepV conductor sequentially in step with each other, and means responsive to the step by step operation of the relay chain at a given station and to lthestep by step operation of the relay chain at said office for communicating over said code conductor and in the course of successive steps, the stations code ofthe given station and the distinctive code at the given station over one of said conductors to said code-operated means for operating the same.

9. In a Voting system, a plurality of voting stations, a central oiice, a set of conductors connesting saidoice and said stations, a voting position at each station provided With a curtain switch operated in the course of the act of voting, a set of keys at each position, each key being related to a given vote or choice, a plurality of register relays at each station less in number than. the number ofkeys in the set and contro'lledv by said keys and by said curtain switch, when operated, to establish a group of code conditions individual to each vote, means at said oiiicer including a group of code-controlled relays'ior recording each choice means for pulsing one of said conductors for transmitting a series 12 of impulses, means for pulsingk or not pulsing another of said conductors during the transmission oil said series of impulses to-form permutation codes, and means responsive to saidpermutation codes forl selectively operating said code controlled relays.

10.- InA a voting system, a plurality of stations connected to a central ofiice by a stepping line and a coding line, a channel selecting device at said oice anda channel selecting device at-each of said stations, means at each station for indi-v cating one of a plurality of Votes or choices thereat by a distinctive selective code, a plurality of code responsive relays in said office, a plurality of card punching magnets in said oiiice, means for eiectively associating a given station with said stepping and coding lines, means controlled over said stepping line for synchronously operating the channel selecting device at Said given stationA and at said oiiice through a cycle, meansA controlled over said coding line forselectively operating said code responsive relays during a rst portion of saidy cycle for operating one of said magnets to'record the identity of said given station, and'- means controlled over'said coding line for again selectively operating said code responsive relays during a secondportion of said cycle for operating one of said magnets to record the indicated vote or choice at said given station.

WINFRED T. POWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,005,555 Kettering Oct. 10, 1911 2,219,347 Thompson Oct. 29, 1940 2,326,204` Dewey etal Aug. 10, 1943 2,344,254, Leathers Mar. 14, 1944 

